Nghe An: Thoroughly protect winter crop production from heavy rain

For the corn fields that are in the growing period, people take advantage of the sunny weather to mound the roots, dredge ditches, and create drainage right at the foot of the fields. Photo: Thanh Phuc

In recent days, Mr. Nguyen Van Hai (Dai Loc village, Thuong Tan Loc commune, Nam Dan) has been closely following weather developments and regularly visiting the fields to have a plan to ensure safety for several hectares.winter corn. For the waxy corn area, his family harvested it when they heard the storm news to avoid breakage and damage. For the corn area in the silk-growing stage, they focused on mounding the roots to create stability against strong winds.

"Corn is grown in different regions and has different varieties. Therefore, there are currently some fields of glutinous corn that have been harvested; some areas are flowering and some have only 3-4 leaves. When hearing news of storms, families stay in the fields to have specific plans for each area, including focusing on harvesting all the glutinous corn; hilling the base, creating windbreaks, preventing corn from falling over and preventing flooding for corn areas that are only a hand's breadth above the ground."

Pay attention to drainage when heavy rain occurs, avoid localized flooding that causes damage to crops. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Up to now, Thuong Tan Loc commune (Nam Dan) has planted 200 hectares of corn; 30 hectares of peanuts, 40 hectares of pumpkin and 60 hectares of various winter vegetables. Winter production is considered the main crop, bringing high income to the people here. In the face of complicated weather conditions, the locality has issued notices on plans to prevent rain and storms, especially ensuring the safety of winter crops.

Mr. Nguyen Van Long, an agricultural officer of Thuong Tan Loc commune, said: "Official dispatches and directives on ensuring agricultural production safety are disseminated to hamlets, and hamlets are widely announced on the radio system and on group messages of each hamlet.

Dredging canals and clearing waterways to avoid congestion before the storm season is a concern for localities. Photo: Thanh Phuc

At the same time, the commune recommends that people promptly harvest 30 hectares of sticky corn; for 30 hectares of peanuts about to be harvested, dredge the furrows; create drainage channels at the foot of the fields to promptly drain water when there is heavy rain after the storm. Direct the Cooperative to inspect the pumping station, deploy teams to operate the pumps, open and close the drainage canals and bridges appropriately to ensure drainage to avoid flooding of winter crops. At the same time, have a plan to restore production after the flood.

With the motto "green house is better than old field", by September 18, Nam Dan had completed harvesting 100% of the summer-autumn rice area. At the same time, the Winter Crop Production Project for 2022-2023 was implemented. By September 20, 2022, the entire Nam Dan district had planted 974 hectares of corn of all kinds, of which corn on rice land was 114.2 hectares, peanuts were 30.5 hectares, and vegetables were 751 hectares.

Cover newly planted areas. Photo: Thanh Phuc

To protectwinter cropsFaced with extreme weather developments, the District People's Committee and the District Department of Agriculture and Rural Development have actively followed the grassroots and had specific plans for each production area. Accordingly, for areas ready for harvest, harvest quickly before rain and storms; for areas of newly planted trees, focus on localized flood prevention; mobilize forces, clear trees, clear obstacles, and blockages on the flood drainage canal after the spillway...

In Hung Nguyen, up to now, 10.5 hectares of squash, cucumbers, and various vegetables have been produced in Hung Tan, Xuan Lam, and Hung Nghia communes; 7.5 hectares of fish farming in the third crop in Xuan Lam and Hung Phuc communes...

According to the recommendation of the professional department, Hung Nguyen farmers temporarily stopped sowing in the prepared areas during the heavy rains due to the impact of storm No. 4. Photo: Thanh Phuc

Ms. Ba Thi Dung, Deputy Head of the Department of Agriculture of Hung Nguyen District, said: "For localities that have planted crops, focus on dredging canals and clearing streams to promptly drain water when heavy rains occur; for localities that have prepared the land but have not yet planted crops, stop planting and wait for the sun to shine and the soil to dry before continuing to plant."

In Nghi Loc district, many vegetable growing areas such as Nghi Long, Nghi Thuan... people have planted seeds. For short-term vegetable areas, they are instructed to harvest "to escape the storm" such as: various types of cabbage; for newly planted vegetables such as: bitter melon, they are carefully covered; for types of squash, pumpkin, cucumber, they are dredged to prevent local flooding...

Early harvest of short-term vegetable areas. Photo: Thanh Phuc

As planned,winter crop 2022The whole province strives to plant 35,430 hectares of various crops. Up to now, many localities have followed the crop calendar and planted crops according to the structure. In the face of extreme weather developments, localities have actively directed and closely followed the situation to have specific response plans; at the same time, they have developed scenarios to recover winter crop production if heavy rain and flooding occur, affecting production.